Articles
The UN shows some balance
By Avi Beker
Haaretz
November 25, 2004
The proposal on the issue of religious tolerance approved Tuesday by the
United Nations - with the inclusion for the first time of a denunciation
of, and concern for, the spread of anti-Semitism - does not express a historical
revolution in the organization's voting patterns. But it certainly does
send a symbolic message that could have diplomatic significance.
The resolution, adopted by the UN's Third Committee: Economic, Social
and Cultural Matters, "recognizes with deep concern the overall rise
in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many
religious communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated
by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia."
The steadfastness displayed this time by Europe in the face of the bloc
of Arab and Muslim countries led to the rejection of their proposed amendment,
which sought to remove any mention of anti-Semitism from the resolution.
The forces that came together to pass the resolution represent the United
States, Russia, Europe and the UN members, who, each for its own reasons,
are interested in playing a role in the new Middle East after Arafat.
Thus, even though the resolution itself is quite loosely worded and lacks
practical application, it is important because the inclusion of anti-Semitism
among the terms that express religious intolerance represents a clear
Arab-Muslim failure. Last year Europe withdrew under Arab pressure, and
Israel was the only country to abstain in the vote, in protest of the
omission of the denunciation of anti-Semitism.
The struggle against anti-Semitism has lately found official expression
in decisions by the European Union and the U.S. to set up mechanisms for
tracking displays of anti-Semitism. At first Europe refused to recognize
that there has been a rise in overt anti-Semitism on that continent, and
it was only because of American pressure that Europe was forced to deal
with the issue.
The result was the Conference on Anti-Semitism in June 2003, sponsored
by the the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which
unites 55 countries. Russia, the U.S. and Canada also participated in
the conference.
American and Jewish pressure also led to both the EU and the UN holding
seminars over the past year focusing on the rise in anti-Semitism, particularly
in Europe. The Arabs, in policy declarations and in the media, expressed
their wrath at the establishment of tracking bodies in Europe and America.
They were particularly infuriated earlier this month when U.S. President
George W. Bush signed a law approving the separate tracking of anti-Semitism.
Bush worked together with Congress despite the protestations of the State
Department, which did not want give anti-Semitism a separate tracking
mechanism.
It is quite likely that Europe, too, is becoming increasingly aware that
the threat of extremist Islam is a problem for more than just the Jews.
Particularly conspicuous is the determination of Holland, which recently
became the battle ground in the struggle between Muslim extremists and
rightists. As acting president of the EU, Holland demonstrated considerable
fortitude in the face of pressure from Arab and Islamic countries to delete
anti-Semitism from the UN resolution.
Just as the adoption of the resolution by the UN Third Committee is a
purely declarative move that does not recognize the fact that anti-Semitism
is a unique phenomenon in its expression and scope, so too does it not
mean that the UN recognizes that incitement against the State of Israel's
right to exist is also anti-Semitism.
It must be remembered that over 20 anti-Israel resolutions are due to
be approved, as they are every year, by the UN General Assembly. This
Third Committee resolution will therefore aid the UN in regaining a little
legitimacy in the face of the increasing calls in the U.S. to cut financial
support to the UN if it does not undergo structural and political change.
The UN and its secretary general, Kofi Annan, who suffered harsh criticism
over the food-for-oil deal with Iraq on the grounds that it was also being
used to finance terror, can now prove that the UN is still relevant and
"balanced," and can still contribute to the peace process.
Europe, which was also criticized for its lax treatment of violent anti-Semitism,
will now want to use this resolution as a lever for renewed activity in
the Middle East. Europe will now tell the Israeli government that it cannot
deny European involvement, and will explain to the Arabs that in order
to advance on the diplomatic track it is must remain faithful to the struggle
against religious intolerance.
© Reprinted
with permission from Haaretz Daily
|